Friday, September 30, 2016

UPDATE: ATTN: Cyclists. Tell the city you want these bike lanes.

Adam Jeffrey, president of SoCoVelo, has a message for any cyclists that don't think new buffered lanes on Research Parkway are a big deal: You're wrong.

Jeffrey sent out an email today to supporters calling the city's change "a crucial moment for cycling" and urging cyclists to show their support for the change. He notes that the reaction to these lanes will likely impact whether the city chooses to install more lanes in the future.

I've posted the majority of his email below:

A section of Research Parkway has been improved to reduce from 3 lanes of travel down to 2 lanes and a buffered bicycle lane. You can see some photos of it here. Which as I'm sure many of you know is a big deal for our area and sort of a crucial moment for cycling in our community ...

This is a moment where we can't let the negative voices drown out the potential. You might not live in an area of town where you'd ever considering riding on this section of road. But if this is successful I can see a potential future where perhaps the next infrastructure improvement is one you might ride. But that future won't come if we don't show support for projects like this now.

So I'm asking you do whatever you can to help support it but here are some simple things that won't take much time but can collectively matter.
Complete the city's ride on research survey found here, along with many more details: https://coloradosprings.gov/rideonresearch.

There is an event in the works on October 8th to collectively ride the new infrastructure, look for more details on it in our meetup and I hope on other social media soon. (or just reroute your next ride over there).
Share this email with your organizations and networks and encourage them to check it out / complete the survey.

Thanks for reading

Adam Jeffrey
SoCoVelo President

——- ORIGINAL POST, WEDNESDAY, 4:04 P.M. ——-

click to enlarge

Courtesy Kids on Bikes

Buffered bike lanes could provide a safer way to ride the roads.

If you like to ride a bicycle in Colorado Springs, then I'm guessing you have a few gripes.

You may think city staff doesn't know that. Or that they are ignoring it. But actually, city staff is perfectly aware of the problem and are working, albeit slowly, to address it.

Case in point: Wednesday and Thursday the city will have demonstration buffered bike lanes on Research Parkway between Chapel Hills Drive and Austin Bluffs Parkway. The idea is to get some bike infrastructure in northern Colorado Springs and try out protected bike lanes — which make it so that cars can't just swerve into bikes.

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo— The City of Colorado Springs will be installing a demonstration buffered bike lane on Research Parkway between Chapel Hills Drive and Austin Bluffs Parkway, Wednesday and Thursday, Sept. 28 and 29.

Public input from local bike studies has identified a need for additional bike facilities and enhanced bicycle connections in northern Colorado Springs. Research Parkway was identified as one of the top 21 Corridors in the Pikes Peak Region for connecting multiple bike facilities with local destinations.

Because this is a new type of bike facility and the roadway will be resurfaced in 2017, the City decided to take the opportunity to test the buffered bike lanes knowing the project can be reversed or made permanent with the scheduled overlay. City crews will install the demonstration lane roadway markings with paint and flexible delineators to separate bicyclists from motorists. This method of testing has been used by other cities to evaluate the benefits of new bicycle infrastructure with minimal cost to taxpayers.

The demonstration project includes a painted buffer with vertical delineators to raise awareness of the presence of bicyclists on Research Parkway while providing separation from traffic. Research Parkway is ideal for this type of project because it uses existing infrastructure to add bicycle facilities in northern Colorado Springs and because existing and projected traffic volumes on Research Parkway are more consistent with a four-lane versus its current six-lane roadway configuration. Because minimal traffic on multiple lanes encourages speeding, modifying Research Pkwy to four vehicle lanes and two bicycle lanes should enhance safety overall by reducing vehicle speeds, providing dedicated space for bicycles outside of vehicle travel lanes and offering an improved walking environment for pedestrians.

The proposed bike lanes will provide connections to several existing bicycle facilities in the area connecting cyclists to destinations such as the future John Venezia Community Park, local schools, the Briargate YMCA, and several local shopping centers.

· Summerset Drive Bike Lanes (connects south to Chapel Hills Mall)

· Skyline Trail (near Chapel Hills Drive)

· Briargate Trail just West of Austin Bluffs (connects to east/west Woodmen Trail and Cottonwood Trail)

· Rangewood Drive Bike Lanes

· Neighborhood/local trails

What’s Next:

The City will monitor the project and continue to collect data to understand any safety and mobility changes that occur for all modes of travel. Prior to resurfacing, the City will evaluate the success of the demonstration project based on metrics of safety and roadway operations for both bicycles and vehicles. If the demonstration is determined to be a success, the facility will be re-installed with green bike lanes in high conflict areas and long-life markings.

The City has launched an online survey to gather input from people utilizing Research Parkway. Residents may learn more about buffered bike lanes and right sizing of Research Parkway, and complete the survey by visiting https://coloradosprings.gov/rideonresearch.

Colorado Springs is home to an active and vibrant bicycling community. With more than 110 miles of on-street bicycle routes, nearly 120 miles of urban bike trails and more than 60 miles of unpaved mountain bike trails, our city is committed to ensuring that biking is a convenient, safe, and connected form of transportation and recreation. Colorado Springs has achieved Silver status in the League of American Bicyclists-Bicycle Friendly Communities Program. Colorado Springs was recently recognized in the American Community Survey (ACS) as #38 for the nation’s fastest growing cities for bicycle commuting and is funded in part by a self-imposed bicycle excise tax to fund bikeway improvement within the City of Colorado Springs. For more information about bicycling programs, mobile-friendly bike racks, safety information and a map of bike lanes around the city visit www.coloradosprings.gov/bike.